Free simulation software gets supply designers ON boardProduct News 2/28/2004 Post a commentON Semiconductor's ON Power Designer, a complimentary, customized version of Power 4-5-6 Plus from Ridley Engineering, Inc. (Roswell, GA), is suited to development of both active and standby power supplies for computing, LCD monitors, battery chargers, and wall adapters working from an 85 to 260V input. The NCP120x software product, for switching supplies, provides circuit design synthesis, large-signal waveform simulation and control-loop design, plus a magnetics designer and final parts list.

Switch designed for multiple appsProduct News 2/27/2004 Post a commentITT Industries, Cannon has introduced two- and four- way switches that are designed for long life, excellent tactile feedback and silent operation for use in a broad range of applications.

High-density, extended temperature FPGAs claim slots in automotive appsProduct News 2/27/2004 Post a commentAlmost every car that comes off the assembly line will make use of occupant safety systems, electronic engine control modules for camless engine control units (ECUs) and other under-the-hood powertrain management systems. But high end automotive electronics like navigation, speech recognition, passenger control and comfort systems, intelligent occupant sensors and heads-up displays may not have the volumes that justify an investment in ASICs. Here, the densities, features, and extended temperatu

StreetFighter product line attacks global ADSL marketProduct News 2/26/2004 Post a commentCentillium Communications unveiled its new StreetFighter line of Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line chipsets for Customer Premise Equipment. The company says it provides all the key functional blocks required to implement an ADSL2/2-plus bridge, router or home gateway product.

Power connector prevents finger probe accessProduct News 2/25/2004 Post a commentTyco Electronics offers a finger probe resistant (FPR) version of the AMP Power Series 50 connector. The FPR model is designed to help prevent finger probe access and allows the connector to be used at elevated voltages in user access areas of electrical equipment.

DC/DCs on ceramic beat the heatProduct News 2/25/2004 Post a commentC&D Technologies' NCX10S series of single-output surface-mount DC/DC converters, relying on the benefits of its ceramic substrate, can deliver its full 10 watt output at temperatures up to +85&degC without heatsinking. Its so-called "compliant-leg" technology ensures enhanced mechanical reliability by compensating for expansion and contraction caused by the different coefficients of thermal expansion between the converter substrate and the PC board onto which it is mounted.

Optimized DirectFETs maximize DC/DC performanceProduct News 2/25/2004 Post a commentInternational Rectifier has three new devices in their DirectFET family that are optimized for VRM 10 power systems and high-current, high-frequency DC/DC converters for next generation Intel and AMD processors. "The DirectFET MOSFET product line now includes 20- and 30-volt products with a wider selection of die sizes, giving designers more choices for circuit optimization," said Carl Blake, director of technical marketing, Computing and Communications group.

700-W supply with PFC serves rugged appsProduct News 2/25/2004 Post a commentAbsopulse Electronics' PFC700 series delivers 700 watts for applications requiring a power-factor-corrected input (0.97 at full load over the entire input range) and a rugged design. The single-output supply utilizes asynchronous technology for the PFC-input stage and half-bridge topology after the input stage to deliver 12 volts at up to 60 amps continuous from a 90 to 264 VAC input (47-64 Hz). The fan-cooled unit is rated for full output over 0 to +50&degC.

ARM-based MCU family adds flash, support for CAN automotive busProduct News 2/24/2004 Post a commentPhilips Semiconductors has added more memory and a new level of support for the automotive and industrial CAN bus to its ARM7 TDMI-based LPC2000 family of 32-bit microcontrollers. New parts are rolling out with operating frequencies up to 60 MHz, power consumption lower than many 8-bit MCUs and price tags starting near $5 in quantity.

Low-noise op amps offer rail-to-rail outputs and 3V operationProduct News 2/24/2004 Post a commentCatch up on two families of operational amplifiers recently introduced by Linear Technologies and reviewed by editor Paul O'Shea. These devices consume only 50% as much power as competitive devices and deliver ultra low noise performance, rail-to-rail outputs and fully specified 3.3V operation.

Clock generators support XDR memory systemsProduct News 2/23/2004 Post a commentA cross-licensing agreement between Texas Instruments and Rambus will result in a new line of XCG clock generators. Get ready for fast data transfers in next-generation consumer, networking, and PC computing systems, the companies say.

TI sees partnerships as key to success in DSPsProduct News 2/23/2004 Post a commentMessage from TI's Developers Conference: Texas Instruments Inc. will need to form even tighter relationships with tool vendors, software developers and systems manufacturers to stay in front of requirements for its next-generation digital signal processors, according to the company's next president and chief executive officer.

Vertical-mount ICMs support 10/100 Base-TXProduct News 2/23/2004 Post a commentBel Stewart Connector has added a new series of single port, vertical-mount MagJack Integrated Connector Modules (ICMs) to its magnetic-based product portfolio for high-speed networking and computing applications.

Nichrome resistor line adds low TCR versionsProduct News 2/20/2004 Post a commentVishay Intertechnology, Inc. has expanded its CTN series of 30 mil center-tapped nichrome chip resistors with new devices that offers a low absolute TCR of &plusmn10 ppm/&degC over the full -55&degC to 125&degC temperature range. Available in a compact 0.030 x 0.030 inch chip size, the resistors also offer excellent stability at 250 mW power levels.

Ultracaps available in 3F and 100F versionsProduct News 2/20/2004 Post a commentNessCap Co. Ltd. has expanded its 2.7-volt ultracapacitor product offering with the addition of 3 farad (F) and 100F models. These components can be used as an energy source for a variety of applications including LED displays, remote control devices, toys, hand-held scanners, small printers, actuators and relays.

Ceramic piezoelectric speakers designed for ultra-slim appsProduct News 2/20/2004 Post a commentTaiyo Yuden (U.S.A.), Inc. says its new MLS series of 0.7-mm thick multilayer ceramic piezoelectric speakers are 30% to 50% lighter and consumes up to 50% less power than standard dynamic speakers. Touted as the industry's thinnest speaker, the MLS is compact enough for installation in confined spaces down to 1.0 mm, making it suitable for use in next-generation, ultra-slim portable electronic devices.